Friday evening I was going 67 in a 50 mph zone the first thing I saw was the radar detector go off and not even a second later the blue lights started flashing. This was on a straight section and no hills, he was going in the oposite direction. The Maryland State Trooper saw the radar detector and just laughed and said that didn't do you any good at all. He then gave me a warning ticket. I thanked him, he just chuckled again as he walked away----guess the money I threw away on the fancy Cobra Radar Detector was costly enough. And no other detector is going to work any better with "instant on" or "laser radar" Moral of this story is drive the speed limit or take your chances and be prepared to pay the fine. Not all Policemen are out to cost the motorist. This one has my utmost respect.

 

First thing you have to learn if you are going to exceed the speed limit in a major way is that just because you have a radar detector doesn't mean you won't get caught. Unfortunately, you have learned that the hard way.

I took a 4000 mile roadtrip to MN from CT in July. I frequently was cruising at about 85 to 90. The key isn't just the radar detector, its having what I call a 'rabbit' out front of me anywhere from .25 to 1 mile. A rabbit is some bozo who is exceeding the speed limit and not smart enough to realize that radar detectors alone aren't going to keep them out of ticket land and will trigger the instant ons before I get there. You really can tell who these folks are.

My evidence this works. Well, last speeding ticket I had was over 11 years ago. Also, on this long roadtrip I had a total of 9 people around me, literally within .25 miles, that got stopped and ticketed for speeding. 3 of them in PA, 2 in OH, 1 in IN, 2 in WI, and 1 in MN. I got stopped zip times. This was accomplished by using this rabbit method and not driving foolishly and thinking the radar detector is your savior.

By the way, if you want the best radar detector right now money can buy, the Escort 8500 for portables is the winner no contest. If you want permanent mount, which I am thinking about for my new SCrew, then the Escort SR-1 is the way to go.

Sorry about the ticket, but I had to learn the hard way too.

 

best thing is a CB radio... with newer radars, the only thing they tell you is that you've already been caught. But, there are ways to fight.

http://www.norman-law.com/page12.html

 

I've used the Foyboy's method for at least 12 years also. Get some dumba$$ about a quarter mile ahead of you and let him get the ticket. Better than any radar detector around.

Just keep lookin gin your rearview for someone sneaking up behind you....

 

I live by this motto. The rabbit method coupled with a good detector works for me. Always try to have someone in front of you to get zapped first. You should be able to detect it and take necessary actions.

If there is no other traffic, slow it down.

 

I know I'm a newbie to the forum but I'm a radar/laser dectector user from way back. For what it's worth, the rabbit method has always worked for me (kow).

 

I CALLED THEM THE SACRIFICIAL LAMB

I too let someone else out front of me take the hit
When the instant on, hits him, I catch some errant signals
and quickly slow down.

 

I have to disagree... My radar detector has bailed my out countless times. No question about it, you can't just haul *** everywhere you go and expect your radar detector to take care of you everytime, but IF you are going to speed, in my opinion there's no question they help out a lot. IF the cop is useing LASER, he's looking at your speed the second your radar detector is going off if you were his target. But if there's anyone in front of you that get's 'shot' first, you will atleast know what you're coming up to. And there are still a LOT of police that are not useing LASER, inwhich case radar detector's will help you out almost everytime. They also help out quite a bit at night when all you can see is headlights coming at you (when you can't see the cop cars.)

 

The "rabbit" (sucker) method is always the best. You can accomplish this even with a cheap radar detector. I have to warn you that it bit me when I was caught in a LASER speed trap. My old, cheap detector doens't know what LASER is.

 

I haven't had a speeding ticket in almost 9 years thanks to wabbits. I've had several with detectors in tow. I did 300 miles in 3.5 hrs onetime using a wabbit. Started following her at Huntsville on I65, right through Nashville (amazing), and on to Louisville. She had her left foot stuck out the window, shades on, radar detector on, and right foot stuck firmly on the floor. I couldn't believe she didn't get a ticket. She was an unusual wabbit as I've seen several get them.

 

Let me throw in a couple of things.....since I am "da fuzz" LOL

Every laser unit I have used and seen, is handheld and does NOT emit anything until the trigger is squeezed, which is done AFTER the crosshairs are on your vehicle. Most of the radar units today are either handheld or hard mounted, but either way, most are instant on or trigger activated as well. I always can tell who has a detector, when you shoot the car, you see the front end dive forward as they slam on the brakes, but it is way too late then.
My "standard" is I give atleast 10 over before even thinking of writing a citation, usually is more like 13-15 over. But, that is me, not everyone uses those numbers.
Like someone said, watch your rearview too. I can't count the number of times I have cruised up behind someone on an interstate well over the limit,get the pace on the calibrated speedo and bam, they are done.
To end, just let me say, be careful. In my city, we will have considerably more people killed in accidents this year than homicides. Many accidents are related to speeding and signal violations. That is why SO many PD's emphasize traffic enforcement. I agree, in MOST cases 10 over is no big deal, but use some common sense and look at your surroundings (schools, etc) and driving conditions. This is something we take very seriously and many citizens do not agree with. But driving is one of the most hazardous things people do. I worry MUCH more about getting in a crash than being shot at work.
And yes, the sacrificial lamb does work

 

Slapshot,

I appreciate that realistic approach to traffic enforcement. If someone wishes to drive fast on the freeway, and can do so safely, I say let 'em go. But if someone is speeding in a residential neighborhood, then even 10 is pushing it, what with kids, pets... you name it.

A few things kill me about current traffic enforcement procedures in Houston. 'Slower traffic keep right' is never enforced, and it is a source of congestion, dangerous driving, and road rage. Second, I hate the 'fish in the barrel' approach to writing tickets. Take the Katy Fwy on a Sat morning... light traffic... moving 75 in a 60, but plenty safe, and boom... soime guy in a Camaro is writing tickets to every 1000'th driver. It does not engender respect for the law.

 

Amen!!! I by far get into it with driver's going the speed limit in the left lane much moreso than anything else. I think vehicles with three axles or more should be required to stay out of the left lane. (Or at the very least be required to use it for passing only.) I noticed they do this in Georgia when we went to the Master's tournament.) The only negative to this at all is on two lane highways in some cases if it is congested, having all the 18 wheelers in the right lane can make it difficult for vehicles trying to get on the highway to merge into the far right lane. Regardless, I think anyone going less than ten miles over the speedlimit should get the hell over!

 

Rabbit method and a Bel 980. Works great. The Bel 980 picks up lasar. The dude up front gets shot, my detector goes off, I back it down, he gets pulled over. I drive by and tell him, Thank-You.

 

I've decided on the Escort 8500. After some deliberation between it and the V1, I think with the cheaper price, comparable (if not better) features is the way to go. Although some people are diehard V1 fans, I'm not stuck on either one yet.
When I look at their site, I see it and a 'SR-1'. hmmmm, what is this. So I come here to look. Is that the only difference, it's hard mounted. What about the SR-X with 'laser shifting' I couldn't find a price either. How much $ do those things run? does it have to be professionaly installed? Has anyone here used one? This is proably going to be my fist and most important mod.